Rocking and rotating toy



1957 L. E. KLING 2,804,123

' ROCKING. AND'. ROTATING TOY Filed Dec. 7, 1954 Fig. 4

Lesler E. K/ing INVENTOR.

M -mg,

UnitedStates Patent Ofiice ROCKING AND ROTATING TOY Lester E. Kling, Daytona Beach, Fla.

Application December 7, 1954, Serial No. 473,570

3 Claims. (Cl. 155-69) The present invention relates to a novelly constructed and unusually designed toy expressly adapted for use by small children and has more particular reference to a toy which is adapted to be pushed, pulled and otherwise manuevered about over a floor or equivalent surface much to the amusement of the child user and which, when occupied, is used for rocking, rotating, or simultaneously rocking and rotating to promote rollicking fun and exercise.

The production and use of rocking and spinning toys for the amusement of small tots is, of course, now new. The art to which the invention relates has to do with many styles and variant forms of rocking and spinning bowls and the like. The object of the instant invention is to structurally, functionally and otherwise improve upon similarly constructed and performing toys in the same field of endeavor and, in so doing, to provide original and therefore unique adaptation in which manufactures of playthings and toys, retailers of the same and similar amusement devices, parents and users will find their respective requirements and needs effectually taken into account and satisfactorily met.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a toy in the category stated which is characterized by a rocking and spinning base which is fashioned into a seat and which is provided with an inflatable and defiatable tube which serves not only as a protective cushion for the child user, but as an effective bumper to guard against marring furniture when maneuvered into contact therewith by the user, as is frequently the case.

More particularly, the preferred embodiment of the invention has to do with a hollow shell which is fashioned into the aforementioned base and which contains a tinkling jingle bell or equivalent noise maker which operates in the use of the toy in motion, the top of the base being discoidal and having a suitable pad providing a seat, and the marginal portion of the base having a channel in which the endless inflated tube or bumper is seated and strapped or otherwise held in place.

Then, too, limited novelty is predicated on a pneumatic bumper tube which has an inflation valve which is extended into the interior of the chamber portion of the base where it is not likely to result in injury to the user, as might otherwise be the situation.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts through out the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a rocking and rotating toy constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged section taken on the plane of line 22 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is an exaggerated fragmentary sectional and elevational view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

2,804,123 Patented Aug. 27, 1957 Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the tube at taching and retaining straps.

Referring now to the drawings, the aforementioned base is denoted by the numeral 6 and while it may be of variable shapes and materials and size, it is preferably of sheet material. In some instances, sheet metal of an appropriate strength but light weight has been used. In other instances, commercial plastics have been used and preferred. The base is a hollow shell the chamber of which is denoted at 8. The bottom portion is a segment of a sphere and is denoted generally by the numeral 10 and is concave-convex with the convex side intended to rest on the floor or other surface and providing a rocker. This sort of a bottom also allows the device to spin or turn on a vertical axis and permits the child user to shove and drag the base from place to place so that it will conveniently slide over the surface. The top is flat and circular as at 12 and may be exteriorly covered with a sponge rubber cushion or pad 14 and thus used as a handy seat. The web or rim 16 which connects the top and bottom portions is arcuate in crosssection and such that it provides a convenient channel and accommodates a limited portion of an endless inflatable and deflatable rubber or equivalent tubes 18. This tube has an inflation valve 20 which extends through an opening in the web 16 in the manner shown in Figure 2. Here, the valve is allowed to project into the chamber where it is shielded and the child user also is protected against injury. The numerals 2222 in Figure 3 designate hooks which are struck out or otherwise formed and severe to anchor the apertured end portion 2424 of a complemental harnessing strap 26. The strap embraces the tube and the tube is thus anchored in the channel in the manner best shown in Figure 3.

It is desirable to use a suitable noise making jingle bell 28 which is pivotally suspended as at 30 and provides a desired toy-like tinkling sound.

For added strength and balance a counterweight 32 is provided and this is securely anchored on the interior side of the rockable bottom 10.

A toy as shown and described may be maneuvered and caused to ramble from place to place by the child user. With it he may promote exercise, amusement and fun and may sit on the seat or he on the cushion forming tube and maneuver himself about. That is to say, he may sled from place to place or may twist and turn and rock and resort to such antics as children are prone to do when having fun.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A bodily shiftable toy comprising a manually turnable and rockable hollow shell having a horizontal top, an underlying and aligned concave-convex bottom with the convex side disposed downwardly and adapted to be shifted and maneuvered about over a surface, a floor for example, and an annular web concave in cross-section and connecting marginal portions of said top and bottom and defining a channel, and an endless inflatable tube partly seated and removably held in said channel.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 and wherein said tube constitutes a bumper and is of a cross-section such that approximately the upper half portion thereof projects to and lies in a plane above the plane of said top,

V 3 and a cushion mounted on said top and having a seating surface lying in a plane below the adjacent upper half portion.

3. The structure defined in claim 1 and wherein said tube constitutes a bumper and is of a cross-section such that approximately the upper half-portion thereof projects to and lies in a plane above the plane of said top, and a cushion mounted'on said top and having a seating surface lying in a plane below the adjacent upper half-portion, and readily attachable and detachable straps carried by said Web and embracing said tube at circumferentially spaced points and serving to retain the tube removably in said channel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,395,698 Baum NOV. 1, 1921 1,712,703 Hudson May 14, 1929 2,100,002 Evans NOV. 23, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS 568,347 France Dec. 20, 1923 

